Is DVD playback on G400 Dual Head as good as Dxr2?

[Jammrock]

Trav,

I have a Panasonic VCR and it does the exact same thing. Most of the newer name brand VCR's will not let you even play a DVD through the VCR. Trust me, I have tryed everything but hacking the hardware.

As for getting rid of my Dxr3 hardware decoder....I don't think so. I don't care how good DVD looks on the G400's software decoder, I want my AC-3 sound and low CPU usage. My monitor will be plugged into the G400 MAX (when I can get my hands on one). I will run the DVD off of a TV via the decoder boards S-Video connector or run pass-through on the Dualhead plug to a second monitor. High quality video on the monitor, DVD on the secondary. Now all I need is a G400 MAX.

Jammrock

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PIII 540 (120 MHz x 4.5 - 540), 256 MB PC133 SDRAM, ASUS P3B-F, Winblows 98 SuckyEdition, 18 GB WD Expert HDD, Encore 6x DVD w/ Dxr3 decoder, (TEMPORARY!!!) Voodoo 3 2000 @ 175 MHz which will be replaced by a Matrox G400 MAX, Sound Blaster Live! full retail, MAG DX715T 17

[Trav]

Cheers Jammrock,

At least now, I know I'm not going mad.
Hopefully, this guy who wrote the Remote Selector piece of software is writing the new version now, which will crack macrovision for the DXR3.
Apparently it works really well for the DXR2.
I'll give you the heads up if I hear anything!

Trav

[mynx]

The problem with macrovision occurs on all new VCR's. The problem happen's with DVD players also. The better VCR's will pass the signal Okay, but won't record it. The cheaper VCR's won't even pass it. I haven't experimented with the different brands, so I don't know the specifics. Thats why I still have two old VCR's, they can record anything.

[Chris H]

Trav,
Yes remote selector does crack the macrovision quite well on the Dxr2 . Very good program, highly recommended (I need it for region code cracking 'cos I live in England and buy US discs). I think I'll continue to use the Dxr2 in a second machine and use the G400 (when I get one) for multi-monitor

[Jammrock]

Does anyone have a link to Remote Selector. I do not hunt for cracks much, but this one sounds very interesting. I'll have to add it to list of goodies I need for my computer

Jammrock

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PIII 540 (120 MHz x 4.5 - 540), 256 MB PC133 SDRAM, ASUS P3B-F, Winblows 98 SuckyEdition, 18 GB WD Expert HDD, Encore 6x DVD w/ Dxr3 decoder, (TEMPORARY!!!) Voodoo 3 2000 @ 175 MHz which will be replaced by a Matrox G400 MAX, Sound Blaster Live! full retail, MAG DX715T 17

[Trav]

Hi Jammrock.

You'll find Remote Selector at this site.

http://www.visualdomain.net/

You can actually Crack Macrovision with the DXR3, you just have to use the hollywood drivers (the DXR3 is just a re badged Hollywood +), which are supposedly better than the creative ones anyway, then use remote Selector 1.6.

Trav

[Chris H]

Yes the Dxr3 is a re-badged Hollywood+. Strange really, because I've read many reviews of the Hollywood+, Dxr2 and Dxr3, and when Hollywood is reviewed against Dxr2 the Dxr2 comes out on top, yet many reviewers also say the Dxr3 is better than the Dxr2!

Chris.

[Trav]

Hi Chris,

Yeah, I have read reviews that say the Hollywood + is better than the DxR3 tho!!!
From what I can work out, this seems to actually mean the Drivers/front end are a lot better.
I haven't tried using the Hollywood + software with my DxR3 yet, but might give it a go, especially if it means I can eliminate macrovision.
Having said that, I can't wait to see if DVD on My MAX (when I eventually get it) is as good as reported, then it will be bye bye DxR3 and pass thru, hello free pci slot!

Trav

[This message has been edited by Trav (edited 07-21-99).]

[Chris H]

Hello Trav, yeah bizarre isn't it.
Does your pass through degrade your picture much? Mine is terrible - picture horrible above 800x600. Yet my brothers CL Voodoo2 card came with exactly the same pass-through cable and his is fine upto 1024x768. My Dxr2 has been moved to a second PC because of this.
I want a G400MAX

[Steve C]

Hi Guys,
I HAVE to go through my VCR to watch anything on my TV from my PC, and I too suffer from the macrovision problem. I can't even watch, let alone record a DVD from my G400. Now, some people say that old VCRs have no problems - I tried a quite new Goldstar VCR, an 8yr old JVC one, and two even older god knows what videos, and ALL had the same macrovision problem. I think I need one of those little boxes to cut out the encoding from the signal. Anyone got any ideas where to get them in the UK?

Cheers,

Steve

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Yeah, you know the score...
(ICQ: 29468849)

[Trav]

Just goes to show how one persons perception of something being good, isn't necessarily anothers.
My desktop is set at 1024x768, I think with the passthrough cable, it's not quite as sharp but definately not a bad picture.
On the other hand, it might just be in my head.
I don't like the Idea of a pass thru, so maybe I'm just telling myself that there has to be some sort of degredation.

Does anyonoe know of a macrovision workaround for DVD on the MAX?

[Chris H]

Very true Trav, but believe me, my picture (at 1024x768 for example) was BAD. Severe ghosting, blurring, very dark picture, etc - basically crap.
If I wanted a picture like that I would get a 3DFx card

[Trav]

Heh

It'll be nice to compare it to a G400 without the pass thru.

Steve, I don't know of anywhere in the uk, but this guy makes em himself.
if he can't supply one, he may be able to point you in the right direction.
http://www.smr-home-theatre.org/Reviews/Zorrilla/index.html